Kenmore Mercy hospital, nurses to meet with mediator

Registered nurses at Kenmore Mercy Hospital and hospital officials plan to meet with a federal mediator on April 9 after the nurses rejected a tentative contract for the second time.

Kenmore Mercy is part of Catholic Health System, and CWA Local 1133 represents about 270 nurses at the hospital.

The nurses have twice decisively rejected tentative contracts. In the latest vote, on March 19, 88 percent of the member nurses cast ballots, and 70 percent of them voted against the tentative deal. In the first vote, on Feb. 11, 87 percent of the nurses participated and 94 percent of them voted against that deal.

“CWA believes there is a fair agreement that can be reached at the bargaining table on behalf of the nurses and we are 100 percent committed to working with the hospital to reach an agreement and avoid a strike,” the CWA said in a statement.